Massage apparatus.



K. P. WALLEN.

MASSAGE APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 20, 1907.

Patented Mar. 30, 1909.

' q Vi b1 eases UNITED ECATEti KARL PETRUS WALLEN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO MIA WALLEN, OF

' PROVIDENCE. RHODE ISLAND.

I/IASSAGE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 30, 1909.

Applicationfilerl May 20, 1907. Serial No. 374,667.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Kant. PETRUS Win.- mix, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Massage Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in massage apparatus especially designed for use in the treatment of diseased conditions of the muscles and nerves, embracing the intermittent massaging or kneading action calculated to dissipate the waste deposits accumulated in the tissues, and to promote circulation and assimilation.

The invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown a sectional view of my invention.

The kneading member 1 spherically shaped, but may be of any other general outline desired. It is made of a soft material and is hollow and. resilient, like an ordinary rubber playing-ball, and is provided on its outer surface with a number of protuberances 3, of any suitable shape, hemispherical being preferred. The kneading member has also a stem 4 made of flexible material and of suitable length, and having at its upper end a button 5.

A handle-member 2 of wood has a knob or handle 6, formed with a base 7, which has a flat bottom surface, and attached thereto is a rubber disk 8. The handle member has a central bore 9 of trumpet-like contour, the lower end widening out through the bottom side of said handle, said bore being also widened at its upper end, having first an upward flare, next being annular and further widened or enlarged laterally and maintaining its annular outline, and opening out through the upper end of said handle. The bore is fitted in its extreme outer or upper end with a closure 10. In assembling these parts the stem t is pushed up through the central bore 9 of the handle, button foremost and when through, said button is gripped from above with a suitable tool and pulled upward, this being allowable by reason of the elastic character of the stem. A washer 11 of wood-and formed of two parts,

the dividing line between said parts being indicated at 12, is inserted, one part or half at a time, alongside the stem in the extended bore and pushed inward until both are in final position. The button 5 is now allowed to be properly placed in position and the closure 10 is suitably fastened in place as shown.

The apparatus is operated as follows: The operator grasping the knob of the handle with his hand applies the ball or kneading member to the part to be treated, and presses it down thereupon in a side-wise or slanting fashion. This will cause the ball member to tilt and the part thereof free from protuberances to come into contact with the under, rubber-lined surface of the lower portion of the handle. The apparatus then worked around in this position upon said part, a suitable and even pressure being maintained in the meantime. This action will cause a two-fold motion on the part of the kneading member or ball. By reason of the friction between the upper, smooth side thereof and the under surface of the handle with its rubber lining (this combinationmovement being a kind of friction drive) the ball will travel along the circular track between the edge of the lower part of the handle and the edge of the bore. The lower part of said kneading member will at the same time describe a circular orbit on the part under treatment, the protuberances pressing deep into the tissues. Simultaneously with this the member will also naturally turn around its axis in about the direction of the stem. By means of the button of said stem being held in position by the washer 11, the ball may then be turned around and around interminably without becoming disengaged or disconnected from the handle.

This apparatus for mechanical massage is very important as distinguished from others of a similar nature, as its pressure upon the tissues is continuous and not reciprocating, the advantage gained by this is obvious. In the use of a reciprocating apparatus what lluids in the tissues are pressed away in one stroke are mostly pressed back again by the next stroke. In the case of my invention any fluids contained in the tissues acted upon are all the time being worked away in the same direction.

Havingfully described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure vby Letters Patent is:

1. A massage apparatus comprising a ball, a handle having a lining on its lower surface, and means loosely connecting the ball and handle together.

2. .A massage apparatus comprising a spherical member, a stem on the member, a

handle having an opening therethrough in 10 WhlOll the stem is received, and means for supporting thestemin the handle.

lnltestimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

KARL PETRUS WALLEN. Witnesses RroHAm) B. COMSTOOK, EMILY NORTH MURPHY. 

